Shackled in land of free

Cos and effect of inflation

SUPERMARKETS are rationing veg g and raising prices because the rain inn Spain, which supplies 80 per cent t of our greens, has wrecked the e harvest and caused shortages.

Courgettes, aubergines and spinach have been affected for some time but the bad weather is s now hitting oranges and lemons,n ns, caulis and salad leaves.

Tesco and Morrisons have imposed a limit I AM not a Muslim or a refugee. My passport is British and not from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen.

But when President Trump signed an executive order banning millions of innocent travellers from entering the US, I shuddered.

Because I DO know about “extreme vetting” and being branded an illegal alien by the gatekeepers to the Land of the Free.

In 2003 I was sent to Los Angeles on assignment for this newspaper – but did not know that post- 9/ 11 foreign journalists needed a visa to work in the US.

It was a genuine error, one that could have been swiftly resolved before George Bush declared War on Terror.

But it sparked a frightening 55-hour ordeal in which I was treated like a terrorist, handcuffed, deprived of sleep, a shower or proper meals and then deported: “Alien: BLETCHLY, RACHAEL, No 95648711.”

And it’s why, even if legal challenges stop Trump’s disgraceful travel ban, I fear for the millions of people on his long, personal hate list.

Because Muslims, bad hombres or “lying journalists” who do make it to the US border can expect a very rough ride indeed.

When I got to LA without the necessary stamp in my passport I was whisked off for fingerprints and mugshots.

My name was run through the FBI database, then I was subjected d to a humiliating body search in an Alien Detention Cell. I was denied any phone ne calls and held for eight hours in a dirty roomm with ten other anxious detainees.

Like the Sikh man who’d lived in LA for 12 years, returning from burying his brotherrother in Delhi. He was told there was a problem roblem with his green card – but not what – andnd was being deported.

Once I was “processed” two armed guards handcuffed me and marched me to anothernother detention room – with a pay phone ne that allowed me to call for help. After another 14 hours rs on a metal chair my boss, who’d alerted lawyers and d the British Vice Consul in n LA, got me on a flight back home.

I was lucky. A Chineseese woman with me wasas carted off to the local jail ail to await her flight. I now need two visas – onee for work and one for holidays – and whenever I return to the US I’m sentt off to the naughty room again.

As I wait, sometimes for hours, to be cleared, I relive my nightmare as dozens zens of frightened travellers disappear for further interrogation.

But I won’t go back to America while Donald Trump is President.

Travel ban or not, his bigotry hass given officials the green light to vet certain visitors as extremely as they wish.

And I fear they, not their passports, ts, will be feeling the stamp of the USA. “POOR old Kylie” was the phrase on millions of lips this week.

After years of being unlucky in love, Aussie pop queen Kylie Minogue, 48, had found “the one” in actor Joshua Sasse, 29, and was looking forward to becoming his wife.

Only last month, she was happily talking about her dream wedding dress.

She also revealed she’d take his surname when they married because it “makes a statement” about love and commitment.

And then she discovered hipster Josh off of threeth three hhee heads of broccoli and three iceberg lettuceeslettuces per customer, to prevent stockk stockpiling. B But I’ll be sticking to frozen veg to avoidaav getting a cauliflower ear in brawls over the brassicas or trying to seize a salad. Because Spanish growers expect sh shortagesh to go on until April – whic which means this rationing crisis is just the tip p of the iceberg. wass supposedly spinning around with a Spanish actress – and booted him out.

I’m sure Kylie’s world has fallen apart and our hearts go out to her.

But can we all stop saying “Poor old Kylie” or asking “Why can’t she keep a man?”.

Because Miss Minogue has proven once again that she’s a strong, proud and classy woman who deserves our respect, not our pity.

In fact, Kylie is far too good to be humiliated by any man’s sass. CAMPING out for a couple of nights can cure chronic insomnia and mood disorders. Experts in Colorado found sleeping under canvas with natural light resets the body’s internal clock helping campers drop off and feel happier. And less tents.